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Friday, August 12, 2016

Reading in the Sun - Interview with Linn B. Halton & Giveaway

Bristol-born Linn B Halton lives in the small village of Lydbrook, which nestles on the edge of the Forest of Dean, in the UK.

“I’m a hopeless romantic, self-confessed chocaholic, and lover of coffee. For me, life is about family, friends, and writing. Oh, and the occasional glass of White Grenache…”

An Amazon UK Top 100 best-selling author with A Cottage in the Country in November 2015, Linn’s novels have been short-listed in the UK’s Festival of Romance and the eFestival of Words Book Awards. Linn won the 2013 UK Festival of Romance: Innovation in Romantic Fiction award.

On most days of the week I’m a writer but, at the moment, in between I wield a paint brush (see below). Before I was a writer I was an interior designer, so for me it’s all about detail and design.

I can’t start the day without coffee; I eat quite a bit of chocolate, as for many years I couldn’t touch it without getting a migraine; my cat, Ziggy, is like my third baby … I’ve been in love with my husband since the day I met him and he is one of the reasons why I write romance. I wish everyone could find their soul mate.

2. What kind of books do you bring with you when you go on holiday?

My Kindle has a HUGE library but most of my time is spent proofreading, rather than reading for fun, these days! When I do manage to laze in the sun I like a good romance, something with heart that makes me smile.

3. If you could spend a sunny day anywhere how would your perfect day look like?

My husband and I love France and have had many, many fabulous holidays there. My perfect day would be spent staying in a French manor house and would begin with a leisurely breakfast of croissants, local bread and coffee. This would be followed by a morning looking at local landmarks, or visiting a market, and an afternoon spent lounging under a shady tree reading a book before getting dressed up for dinner. Then a romantic dinner for two with good food and fine wines. A leisurely walk around the grounds before retiring to our four-poster bed and my perfect day is done!

4. Could you tell us about your hobbies (when you are not writing or reading)?

Life is very busy with a hectic writing schedule and an online emagazine to run, in between which I look after a two and six-year-old one day every week. Then there is our latest ‘project’. The last one was an old cottage, but the new house (we moved in May of this year) has been amazing fun. As the age of the house didn’t provide any character features we gutted the interior, took down one wall and moved another to really make the most of the space.

The theme is French country; silver greys, aubergine and white, white, white. We wanted a look that reminded us of being on holiday – hence the very French influence! Once the house is done it will be back to the gym, lots of long walks in the Forest of Dean, which is on our doorstep, and there won’t be much time left for anything else.

5. Where do you find the inspiration for your stories?

I don’t plot or plan. I sit down in front of the blank screen and write, usually inspired by having a title and the name of the lead character. Sometimes I might have a one-liner, something that popped into my head and from which I know a whole story will grow. I also have a journal full of ‘ideas’ for stories that I’ve added to over the years, ready for the day I could finally give up work and sit down to write. What I didn’t expect was that a story could stem from a single thought and so far I simply haven’t had time to look at my journal, despite having written over a dozen books so far!

6. If you could be any leading character from a bestselling book, who would you be and why?

It would have to be Bella Swan from Stephenie Meyer's Twilight. Who wouldn't want to be Bella, playing opposite the awesome Robert Pattinson as Edward Cullen in the movie??? But seriously, it's a love story that grips the imagination as Bella's devotion to Edward is tested to the extreme.
A-maz-ing.7. What's your favorite reading spot?

Lying in bed before I go to sleep. I like the quiet and it’s the perfect way to unwind after a busy day!

8. What is your favorite holiday destination and what do you like so much about it?

We’ve travelled quite a bit over the years, but living in the UK it’s so easy to jump in the car, go through the channel tunnel and head to France and beyond. For us it’s not so much about the destination, as it is the tour. Our favourite holiday ever was an eighteen-hundred-mile round trip – down through France, into Switzerland, on into Italy and back via the south of France. Touring suits us better than being in one place, although if I had to pick one location to stay for the entire time it would be around Lake Garda.

9. Do you have any advice for authors who would like to write a sunny story?

It’s easier to write about a place you have visited! What greater incentive to travel than for research? If you have to feature a location without a trip there, go online and research the place. But ‘sunny’ stories can also be based wherever you are – and even when it’s raining outside, it’s fun to spend the day writing and joining your characters at whatever sunny location they want to take you.

10. What can we expect from you in the future?

More stories written from the heart, to touch the heart. Love, life and beyond, but it’s ALWAYS about the romance!

Giveaway

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Three very lucky readers will win a signed paperback by Linn B. Halton (UK Only) or an e-copy if the winner lives outside the UK.

It's based on a true story of our move into a cottage during the flooding in Gloucestershire a couple of year ago, Ellen. While it's a fictional story all of the renovation mishaps actually happened! It was too funny not to use it in a book!

I agree that writing about a place you've been to is important, but not just for writers though. After all, a reader can also feel when you did your research solely online or if you've actually been somewhere - it's a whole different vibe when you manage to capture your own experience of travelling somwhere onto the pages.

I, too, believe it shows, Birgit. However, online research can be a real bonus. In one of my books the character had an accident and I had to research a subdural haematoma. Twenty minutes and I felt like an expert ha! ha!

A bit late to the party but I have a good excuse! I've been going through edits for two books at the same time and my eyes can hardly focus now ha! ha! Anyway, thank you so much, ladies and I'm thrilled to be a part of your #ReadingInTheSun feature! Hugs and thanks so much for your support - hope everyone is having a relaxing August! Lxx